KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 12, 2019--With adverse drug events (ADEs) triggering an estimated 700,000 ED visits and 120,000 hospitalizations, RDx BioScience (RDx) points to the benefits of pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing to effectively address trial-and-error medicine, improve patient outcomes and impact the $3.5 billion in extra medical costs resulting from ADEs. RDx, a single source for care quality, risk evaluation and opioid expertise powered by a fast, full-service laboratory that includes PGx testing, categorizes ADEs as a serious public health issue that doubles the cost for treatment, lengths of stay, and patient mortality – with the number of ADEs reported to the FDA rising dramatically.

“The essence of PGx is this: giving the right dose of the right drug, for the right indication, for the right patient at the right time,” says Scott Howell, D.O., MPH &TM, CPE, chief medical officer, RDx. “The use of PGx in clinical practice is evolving as new discoveries make it possible and cost-effective to identify a patient’s unique genetic makeup and apply this information to treating medical conditions.”

PGx testing reveals a patients’ risks of serious side effects and reduced drug effectiveness, enabling physicians to make clinical decisions about prescribing that improve therapeutic outcomes. PGx testing can analyze the genetic makeup of individuals and determine how they metabolize nearly 95 percent of the most commonly prescribed oral medications.

“PGx testing is becoming the standard of care nationwide because it ensures that plan members are on the correct medication and dosage – right from the beginning,” says Dr. Howell. “This is especially important for employers, with research showing that with the right medication and dosage, employee symptoms are better treated, speeding their return to work and enabling greater productivity.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says PGx testing for potential ADEs or ineffective drug responses may reduce healthcare costs over the long term by diminishing the duration and severity of illness and the costs associated with ineffective treatment and avoidable ADEs.